Furnace.



H. MOOR.

FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 30, 1909.

4 SHEBTB-SHEET 1;

v INVENTOR' 2 I: N H I I I v/ k ,7 1

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A TTORNEY H.MOOR

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-30,190&

1,044,559, Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

FIG 57.

INVENTOR FIG g Jfarrylfoor;

WITNESSES D gjf w ifi- BY wa w ArrdRNEY ML H; MOOR.

FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1909.

1,044,559, Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESSE ATTORNEY H. MOOR.

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APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 30, 1901- 1 44,559. Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

4 SHEETS-511E131 4.

INVENTOR wl'rivsssss BY W 6 ATTORNEY v transverse section of a furnace constructed .tion comprises a substantially cvlindricall UNITED STATES P -KTENT OFFICE.

HARRY MODEL. OF PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO THOMAS GORDON COULTER, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 191, 1912.

To all whom '51 may concern;

lle it known that l, llaunv Moon, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing" at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l urnaces, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved furnace for the slow combustion on a natm'aldraft of fine fuel, such as culm, fine soft coal, peat, coke, saw dust, or other fine fuel; to provide a furnace of the class described that may be built and that will operate with gr at ellieiency either in large. sizes or in comparatively small sizes adapted for use in heating hoi'ises or for other purposes requiring small heat ing plants; to provide a compact furnace of simple and inexpensive construction that may be easily operated and that will maintain a comparatively constant temperature with little and infrequent attention from the operator; to provide a furnace having a plurality of circular fuel trays arranged in vertical series and having means for conducting the gases of ccmlmstion from the top tray downwardly to raise the teimieraturc of the fuel on the bottom tray; to provide. a furnace having an improved combustion chamber; and to provide other improve ments as will appear hereinafter.

. 1n the a'acompanying drawings, Figure 1 is afragmentary top plan view partly in in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 a vertical central section of the same; Fig. 3 a front elevation of the same: Figs. 4, 5, 6. T and 8 are perspective views of details of the same; Figs. 9 and 10 are fragmentary top plan and vertical sectional views respectively of a modified form of this invention; and Figs. 11 and 12 are a fragmentary top plan view partially in transverse section and a vertical central section respectively of a second modified form of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Q Figs. 1 to 8, one embodiment of this invenouter shell or jacket. 1 made of sheet steel or other suitable material, and resting upon a i suitable flat base or foundation and form- 3 ing the exterior of the furnace. Within this i shell and spaced slightly above the base 2 of the furnace 1s an annular plate or tray 3 of tire, brick, or other suitable material, less in diameter than the interior diameter of the outer shell of the furnace, supported upon a ring 1 of the same material and of the same diameter, which rests in turn upon the base 2 of the furnace. This plate forms the floor of the ash pit of the furnace. Ar ranged above the plate 3 or floor of the ash pit of the furnace, one above the other or in vertical series, is plurality of substantially horizontal and circular vertically spaced trays, or fuel supports, 6, T, 8 and 9, made of tire brick or other suit-able material, and

of less diameter than the interior diameter of the outer shell of the furnace. The lowest one, (3, of these trays forms the bottom of the combustion chamber of the furnace, and is provided with a circular central opening 15 containing an annular grate 16, adapted'to be used in starting the fire. This lowest fuel tray (3 is substantially flat and is of the same diameter as the plate 3 forming the floor of the ash pit, and is supported from the latter plate by means of a riiug 11 of tire. brick of equal diameter. The bottom tray 6 is substantially flat and supports the tray 7 next above by means of blocks 17 of fire brick, arranged between the two trays.

The second tray 8, above the bottom tray, is of substantially the same diameter as the bottom tray, and is supported therefrom by means of a ring or peripheral wall 18 of tire brick of the same exterior diameter as the trays and located between the trays. The third tray 9, above the bottom tray, is supported from the lay beneath by means of blocks of fire brick 19 similar to the blocks 17 between the lower two trays, and this upper tray is surrounded by a ring or peripheral wall 20 of tire brick which rests upon the tray 8 beneath, and which is substantially identical in construction with the ring 18 between the bottom tray and the second tray above. This upper ring 21) sup ports a Hat circular plate 21 of fire brick of the same diameter as the diameter of the bottom tray and which forms the top of the combustion chamber. The second and fourth or top trays are smaller in diameter than the rings 18 and 20 which surround them, leaving annular channels 25, and 26, surrounding the trays for the passage of the gases of C()11'll3l1$ll011 around the peripheries of the trays.

For conducting the gases of combustion dowi'nvardly from above the top tray 9, a vertical tube 30 extends centrally from a point above the level of the top tray but below the top wall of the combustion chamber through the top tray 9 and downwardly through the trays beneath, projecting through theannular grate Ill and into the floor 3 of the ash pit through which it can numicates by means of a circular opening 31 with the space 32 beneath the tloor ot the pit. The first and third trays 7 and 9 above the floor 6 of the combustion chamber, fit snugly around the central tube 30, but the next tray 8 above is provided with an annular recess 33 between the tray and the central tube to permit. of the passage of the gases ot conilntstion between the tray and the tube. \Vithin the outer shell 1,

spaced above the top plate 21 otth, eornbastion chamber, is loe'ated a substantially llat circular heating drum forming a. partition between the upper and lower portions of the interior oil the shell it and supported upon the top plate 21 of the combustien chamber by means of blocks Elli arranged uniformly in spaced relationship around the periphery of the plate 531. The interior of this heating drum 3:. is sub divided into tortuous pas; iges 37, which con'nnunicate by means of vertical passagw; 88 through the blocks 36 and peripheral walls of the combustion chamber, with the space beneath the .tloor of the ash pit. The heating drum is provided with vertical passages 3:) which permit communication between the spaces above and below the drum. in the interior of the outer shell 1 of the furnace. and the outer shell prov'it'lGt'l adjacent its lower end with oppositel y disposed apertures 40 for the adn1i....sion at air into the space between the shell and the outerwalls of the combustion el'iainber.

su'ieite stack leads upwardly centre. from the heater and through the on shell 1 of the furnace to conduct the oi (OltllJUStiOll from the furnace into atimmphere, and the usual. heating pipe all leads ,troiu the upper portion at the shell .5. to conduct the heat from the ot the shell. and in u 7 and it ai 2W3 toe bottom tray .terablvprovided Willi periphor. wl'lieli are rec. ed at Ftlltfitlldtl in.

outta" it in the trays, and the. second. tray the bottom tray (5 is pr titled with a. similar rim surrounding its central. apertu which may be provided with similar reees.

,.to permit the fuel to be removed central from the tray.

rotates nace is provided with a. plurality, in this instance 5, ot ("evening's (30 closed by doors (ll arranged in vertical series and hinged. tothe outer shell to permit of the introduction of fuel into and the removel of ash from the furnace, and the usual manipulation of the furnace. 'lhese doors are preferably arranged. so that one door will be opposite each 't'uel tray.

To form a suitable foundation for the doors (31 and to provide suitable openings into the furnace, the front walls of the combustion chamber and of the ash pit are extended torwardly and are flattened externally to form a seat for the doors and through this seat suitable apertures 62 are provided at convenient levels for the operation of the furnace. This accomplished by dividing the ring 11 next to the lowest ring and extendil'ig its ends 58 forwardly as shown in Fig. 7, by providing each ring 18 and 20 above with oppositely disposed recesses 55), and by exten 'ling the adjacent portions (33 ot the ring for *ardly as shown in Fig". at, the portion (34 of the ring be tween the recesses being also extended for wardly and being centrally located between the upper and lower planes of the ring and of substantially the same thickness as the tliiohness of the adjacent fuel tray 7. The 95 trout portion of each fuel tray and of the liner 3 of the ash pit is also extendedv forwardly to conform to the trout contour of the furnace and the peripheral rims of the trays T and l) are recessed as at 65 and ex- For adn'titting a supply of oxygen into the space above eaeh t'uel tray one or more air inlets (36 are n'ovided leading through the wall of the combustion chamber above r each tray and also in each door. These inlets are covered by suitable :uljustablo closures tli wherelrv the amount: of air passinn through the inlets may be regulated.

in the operation of this turuace the calm or other line fuel is evenly arranged upon each ol. the tool trays ti, T, and 9, through the doors t l. a 'ttl the tire is started upon the grate ltl in the usual manner by means oi. shavings or other lip'ht hiudlines. 'ilhe gases o't combustion troin the tire puss radiall outwin'dly tl'tllll the tjfl'kltt! over the u'um the lowest tray and then up artunul the outer periphery ot' the 'i' above and radially inwardly loo 'uel upon this latter lray'. then to central annular opening I53 ot the tray t l above and radially outwardly over this latter tray, then upwardly around the outer edge ol? the topmost tray 9 and 125 radially inwardly over the .tuel upon this tray, then pass downwardly through the central COIDlJllStlOll tube 30 into the space at the lower out]. oi. the tut-nave. then up- The front of the outer shell 1. of the fun wardlv throu 'h. the vertical iassaees 38 in 1 o b l \J the side walls of the heating chamber and into the heater 35, and finally pass out through the-smoke stack 45. The heat from the fire on the grate gradually ignites the fuel on all of the trays, so that after a short time the fuel on each tray will be in an incandescent state, and the central tube 30 will also'be-hi ghly incandescent. This central chamber being thus maintained at a very high temperature, the smoke and. unburnt gases passing off from the fuel into the tube will be oxidized and completely consumed in thetube before being permitted to pass out of the smoke stack 4-5, thus avoiding the usual smoke and waste incident to furnaces which are not provided with this improved combustion chamber.

In this furnace the combustion of the fuel on the tray takes place primarily at the upper surface of the fuel, gradually extending down ard. the rate of combustion decreasing slightly as the ash is formed upon the upper surface, as the ash protects the fuel beneath from the action of the oxygen in the air. After the fuel has been thus burning a considerable time, for instance for 24 hours or longer, the fire is cleaned by raking the fuel from the lowest tray into the ash pit, then raking the fuel from each of the trays above to the t 'ay immediately beneath, beginning with the lowest tray. After this has been done, the top tray is filled with fresh fuel and the furnace is then in condition to burn another equal period of time. By raking the fuel from one tray to the tray beneath, the unburnt. carbon is mixed with the ash, and when leveled off a new surface of unburnt carbon is exposed to the oxygen admitted and combustion proceeds until the ash forms of such a thick ness as to require further cleaning. The new fuel is only introduced on the top tray where it is partially consumed and as already described is then moved to the tray beneath, and so on downwardly at each cleaning of the furnace until it reaches the lowest tray, where it is finally and com pletely consumed, leaving only a very fine and practically pure ash to be raked into the ash pit.

It is obvious that any other form of heater other than that shown at 35 may be used with this furnace, for inst ance,,hot water coils or steam coils might be substituted or hot air coils might be arranged in the annular space between the heating chamber and the outer shell 1 of the furnace or any other suitable means might be employed for utilizing the heat from the furnace.

The embodiment 'of this-invention described above may be modified in various ways, for instance, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 instead of having the centraltube to form a down draft in the center of the combustion chamber as above described, the

gases of combustion may be carried from above the upper tray upwardly through a central recess 71 in the top wall of the combustion chai'nber and then radially out.-

'ardly through ducts 72 in the top wall and then downwardly through vertical ducts T3 in the side walls of the combustion chamber and into the annular space T l beneath the lowest fuel tray whence the pass rearwa'rdly through a duct 75 and then up ardly through a vertical duct T6 into the heating drum 7?. The ash pit 78 in this case is situated at the bottom of the furnace. In other respects, the construction of this modification is similar to the first form described.

A further modification of the invention, shown in Figsll andlQ. consists in omitting the down dra't't heretofore described and };(1]ili.l'l.ll1, 1 the gases of combustion to pass out from the combustion chamber through a central aperture 30 in the top "all 81 of the combustion chamber and through a heating; drum 82 and into the smoke stack 83.

Although only a few of the forms in which this invention may be embodied have been described, it is obvious that many changes might be made in the construction set forth without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the appended claims.

llaving thus fully described my invention, 1 claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United Htaics:--

1. A furnace comprising a pluralilym't vertically spaced fuel trays, and having a passage for conducting flziscs of combustion from the bottom tray to the top tray, and a passage provided with an inlet leading from the space above the top tray and with an outlet opening into the, furnace adjacent to and beneath the bottom tray, whe eby the gases of combustion are constrained to move, downwardly from above the top tray and through saidoutlet.

Q. A furnace having a combustion chamber provided with a plurality of vertically spaced substantially circular fuel trays located therein and provided with conduits arranged to constrain the Qjuscs of combustion to move inwardly in opposite directions o\er one of said (rays from opposite portions of the periphcuv thereof. and radially outwardly in opposite directions over another of said trays from the central portion thereof. I 3. A furnace having a combustion chamber provided with a i: l tray and provided with conduits arranged to constrain the gases of coml'mstion to move from beneath said tray over rid trav in opposite directions from opposite portions of the periphery thereof and toward the central portion thereof, and having a fuel tray spaced above said first mentioned tray and arranged to,l tively over said trays to the top tray, and hold a mass of incandescent fuel. in said lthen downwardly from above the top tray chamber, and said second mentioned tray L into proxlmity to the bottom tray.

being provided with a central aperture through which the gaseous products of coin bustion from said first mentioned tray are constrained to flow.

11-. In a furnace, the combination with a plurality of vertically spaced fuel trays. of a tube extending through all of said trays and communicating with the space above the top tray for conducting gases of combustion downwardly from above the top tray to the plane of the lower end of the tube.

5. A furnace comprising an annular fueltray provided with a centrally arranged aperture', said furnace being provided with conduits arranged to constrain the gases of combustion to flow from beneath said tray upwardly and over said tray from opposite portions of the periphery thereof and downwardly through said opening in the tray.

C. A furnace having a combustion chamber provided with two vertically spaced coaxial annular fuel trays and an annular wall spacing said. trays apart, a fuel tray located between said first mentioned trays and having substantially its entire periphery spaced from and within said wall. and a tube extending snugly through said intermediate tray and projecting through said first mentioned two trays and spaced from the walls thereof, forming annular passages therewith, the gases of combustion being constrained to flow in one direction through said annular passages and in an opposite direction through said tube.

7, A furnace comprising a combustion chamber having two vertically spaced fuel trays, each arranged to hold a separate mass of fuel in a state of incandescence in said chamber, and a peripheral wall surrounding and spaced from the entire outer periphery of one of s id trays and supported from the other of s trays, providing an annular passage between the space between the trays and the space above one of said trays.

S. A furnace having a combustion chamber provided with a plurality of vertically spaced substantiallycircular and horizoinfal fuel trays located therein and provided with conduits arranged to constrain the gases of combustion to move inwardly in opposite directions over one of said trays from opposite portions of the periphery thereof, and radially outwardly in opposite directions over another of said trays from the central portion thereof.

t). A furnace comprising a plurality of substantially horizontal and circular fuel. trays arranged in vertical series, and means for conducting the gases of combustiona'adially outwardly from one of said trays and radially inwardly from an adjacent tray, upwardly from the bottom tray consecu- 1 0. A furnace comprising a plurality of fuel trays arranged one above another, and provided with a duct for conducting the gases of combustion from the bottom tray to the top tray, and a tube extending through the trays for conducting said gases from the top tray through the bottom tray.

ll. A furnace comprising a pluality of fuel trays arranged one above another, and provided with a duct for conducting the gases of combustion from the bottom tray to the top tray, and a tube extending through the trays for conducting said gases from the top tray through the bottom tray, and having a duct for conducting said gases upwardly from the bottom of said tube to the upper part of said furnace.

12. A furnace comprising a substantially circular trav forming the floor of the ash pit of the furnace, a peripheral ring supporting said trayi and adapted to. form with the foundation of said furnace an inclosed space beneath said tray, a plurality of vertically spaced fuel trays arranged above said first mentioned tray, the lowest of said fuel trays being provided centrally with an annular grate, anda combustion, tube extend ing downwardly through said fuel trays and into said first mentioned tray and (3011111111- n'icating with the space below said first mentioned tray.

13. A furnace comprising a substantially circular tray forming the floor of the ash pit of thefurnace, a peripheral ring supporting said tray and adapted to form with the foundation of said furnace an inolosed space beneath said tray, a plurality of vertically spaced fuel trays arranged above said first mentioned tray, the lowest of said fuel trays being provided centrally with an annular grate, a. combustion tube extending downwa rdly through said fuel trays a n d into said first mentioned tray and con'ununicating with the space below said first mentioncd tray, and an outer jacket surrounding said trays and spaced from the pcripheries thereof forming an annular heat ing chamber around said furnace.

14. A furnace comprising a plurality of vertically spaced fuel trays and having a passage leading from the space above each tray to the space above the next tray above, and having a passage leading from the SIJalCG above the top tray downwardly into proximity to the bottom tray, a wall surrounding said trays, and having a passage leading upwardly therethrough and comnnlnicating with the lower end of said downwardly extending passage, whercby the gases of tofubustion are constrained to move from the lowermost of said fuel trays over the upper side of each other tray, and then downioo ing drum communicating with the upper end of said passage through said wall.

16. A furnace comprising two vertically spaced solid trays each provided with a central opening only, a peripheral wall inclos ing the space between said trays. a third solid tray located between said first men tioned trays and spaced therefrom, a con trally arranged tube extending snugly through said last mentioned tray and pro jecting through the openings in said first mentioned two trays and spaced from the walls of said openings, and an annular grate surrounding said tube and located in the annular opening between said tube and the lowermost of said trays.

17. A furnace comprising a plurality of vertically spaced trays, and having conduits arranged to constrain the gases of combustion to flow radially outwardl over one of said trays from its central portion, and radially inwardly from an adjacent tray and toward its central portion, upwardly from the bottom tray consecutively over said trays to the top tray, and then down \vardly from above the top tray and into proximity to the bottom tray.

l8. A furnace comprising a plurality of fuel trays arranged one above the other, one of said trays being provided with a centrally arranged annular grate. another one of said trays'being above said grate and sur rounded by a peripheral channel, and said furnace being provided with conduits arrangedto constrain the gas-es of combustion to flow from said grate radially outwardly over the tray supporting said grate and around the periphery of the tray above said grate, and radially inwardly over the upper side of said tray above said grate.

19. A furnace hr. ing a combustion chamber provided with vertically spaced fuel trays located therein, all of the fuel trays of said furnace being coaxial, and said furnace having passages arranged to constrain the gases of combustion to flow radially outward from the central portion of one tray toward substantially all portions of the pe riphcry thereof, and radially inward over a 20. A furnace comprising a combustion chamber having an annular fuel tray, a tube surrounded by but spaced from said tray, said furnace having passages ar'anged to constrain the gaseous products of combustion to flow in one direction through the space between said tube and said tray and in the opposite direction through said tube.

21. A furnace comprising a combustion chamber having an annular, substantially circular and horizontal fuel tray, a tube sun rounded by but spaced from said tray and projecting therethrough, forming therewith a substantially annular passage, said furnace havin passages arranged to constrain the gases of combustion to flow in one direction through said annular passage, and in the opposite direction through said tube.

22. A furnace haying a combustion chamber provided with a plurality of solid vertically spaced circular coaxial fuel trays, l0- catcd therein and having passages arranged to constrain the gases of combustion to flow outwardly in various directions from the central portion of one tray and inwardly in various directions over a second tray and toward the central portion thereof.

23. A furnace comprising a plurality of vertically spaced substantially circular horizontal coaxial fuel trays, and a tube extending axially through said trays for conducting gases of combustion from the top tray through the bottom tray.

2- A furnace comprising two vertically spaced trays, each provided with a central opening, a peripheral wall inclosing the space between said trays, a tray located between said first mentioned trays and having its outer periphery spaced from the inner surface of said wall, and a tube communicatiug with the interior of said furnace extending snugly through the said last mentioned tray, projecting through said openings in said first mentioned two trays, and spaced from the walls of said openings.

25. A furnace comprising two vertically spaced trays each provided with an open-' first mentioned two t 'ays, and spaced from the walls of said openings.

26. A furnace comprising two vertically spaced trays each provided with an open mg, a peripheral wall inclosing the space between said trays, a third tray located between the said first mentioned trays and spaced therefrom, a tube communicating with the interior of said furnace extending snugly through said last mentioned tray and projecting through the openings in said gate surrounding said t ibe and first mentioned. two trays and spaced from the walls of said openings, and an annular located in l the annular opening between said tube and I the lowermost of said trays. f

27. A furnace con'iprising a, plurality of l verti ally spaced fuel trays and provided with a duct for conducting gases of eoinbustion dowi'iwardly from above the top tray into proximity to and in vertical alincinent beneath the bottom tray, to also the temperature of said tray.

28. A furnace COlNpllSlDg a plurality of vertiailly spaced fuel trays and proviijled with ducts for coiulucting gases of combustion upwardly from the space above the bottom of said trays and over each of the re niaining trays in succession, and provided with a, duct for conducting gases of coinbustion downwardly from the space above the uppermost of said trays into proximity to and in vertical. alinenient btaieath the bottom t ay to arise the ten'iperature of said tray.

29. A furnace having a combustion chain ber provided with an inipcrtoratc fuel tray having a pipe extending tlmrethrough and communicating with said combustion chain her, said pipe being surrounded by an au'i nular passage through said tray, said fur-I nace being provided with passages arranged I to constrain the gases of eornl'nistion to tlow in one direction through said annular pas sage, and in the opposite direction through said pipe and said traybeing provided with an u nvardly extending annular rim border ing said annular passage.

30. A furnace having a combustion chainb'cr provided with a plurality of vertically spaced substantially horizontal fuel trays, all of the fuel trays of said furnace being coaxial and said furnace being provided with passages arranged to constrain. the gases of combustion to flow radially outward from the central portion of one tray and toward substantially every portion of the pc- 1 riphery thereof, and radially inward over a second tray from substantially every portion of the periphery thereof,

31. A furnace comprising a, coinlmstion chamber provided with a plurality of vertically spaced substantially circular horizontal fuel trays, all of the fuel trays of said chamber being coaxial, and said furnace being provided with passages arranged to con- 1 J till the of combustion to flow raiiia ly outward from the central portion of one of said trays and toward substantially crcry portion of the periphery thereof, and radially inward over a second of Stitl trays from Fail'istantially eve y portion of the periphery thereof.

39,. furnace having a. combustion chaniber plUVitlGtl with a plurality of vertically spaced fuel trays and provided with con-- duits arranged to constrain the gases of mnnbustiijin to n'iove radially inwardly from one of said trays from substantially every portion of the periphery thereof, and radial ly outwardly over another of said trays, from the central portion there-oi." toward .-:ubstantially every portion of the peri ihcry th eieof.

533i iifurnacc having a combustion chamber pl'OVltlQd with a plurality of vertically spacci'l substantially circular tucl t *ays, and provided with conduits arranged to constrain the gases of con'ibustion to more radially inwardly over one of said trays from substantially every portion of the periphery thereof, and 'adially outiardly over another of .tlhl trays from the center thereof, toward sul'istantialty every portion of the periphery thereof.

34-. A. furnace having a coinlaistion chamber n-ovided with a plurality of vertially spaced substantially circular solid, horizon tal fuel trays, and provided with conduits arranged to constrain the gases of con1bustion to move radially inwardly over one of said trays from substantially every portion of the periphery thereof, and radially-out wardly on," another of vsaid trays from the center thereof, toward substantially every portion of the peripl'ierv thereof.

35. A it'urnace having a miubustion chamber provided with two vertici lly spaced coaxial annular fuel trays, an annular wall spacing said trays apart, and a fuel tray lo cated between said first: mentioned trays and having sul'istantially its entire periphery spaiced from and within said wall.

In witness whereof l have hereunto setmy hand this 24th day of August, A. 1)., 19th).

HARRY MOOR.

li itnesses:

il G. Couurnu, it, I. Ganoiqicn. 

